Neil Patrick Harris is an old pro when it comes to the Tony Awards, yet such familiarity could potentially breed contempt.

But on Sunday, as Harris took lead of the 2013 Tonys for the fourth time, the "How I Met Your Mother" actor took "only about three minutes to banish any worries" that he'd suffer from "Host Fatigue Syndrome," the New York Times praised.

His opening number went beyond expectations, as he simultaneously made fun of Shia LaBeouf - "I wouldn't be here if someone else hadn't passed on hosting, so special thanks to Shia LaBeouf for this opportunity," Harris joked about the actor's sudden departure from "Orphans" - and recruited Mike Tyson for a cameo:

While Harris' singing and dancing was sparkling, it didn't distract the audience from his line aimed at Tom Hooper's "Les Misérables": "Can I have my Tom Hooper 'Les Mis' close-up please? See, we don't need extreme close-ups to prove we're singing live. We sing live eight days a week. Check it!"

With their start, the Tonys "utterly embarrassed just about everything except maybe Jimmy Fallon's 'Born To Run' at the 2010 Emmys. It's funny, energetic, committed, and ultimately deeply and touchingly warm-hearted," said NPR. "Step it up, everybody else. The theater kids are making you look terrible."

They really did, especially during the segment in which the stars of three canceled NBC shows - Megan Hilty from the Broadway-inspired "Smash"; Andrew Rannells of "The New Normal"; and Laura Benanti of both "The Playboy Club" and "Go On" - joined Harris onstage to lament in jest the difficulties of trying to become a TV star after theater beginnings.

It was clever, but more importantly well-performed, and CNN.com commenters who tuned in agreed.

"Great show this year!" said NanookoftheNorth. "Neil was great, spontaneous and very likable. Opening number was an attention grabber and true, the best part was seeing Cicely Tyson up on that stage again [winning the best lead actress in a play Tony for "The Trip to Bountiful"] ... and the way she handled the 'time is up' thing...priceless."

Commenter Faddisphere agreed, proclaiming the Tonys as "by far the best awards show of them all. Imagine, a stage full of people that actually have talent! No lip synching and entertaining from start to finish."

Part of the night's notable entertainment was the ceremony's big winner, Cyndi Lauper, who took the stage to sing "True Colors" for the In Memoriam segment.

"The Oscars need to take note," said commenter Sarah. "This is how you put on an award show."

Toward the end of the opening performance, Harris slipped into a staccato rhythm resembling a rap, something he did in earnest as he closed out the show.

Although he teased that they didn't have time for a closing performance, he provided one anyway with help from Tony winner Audra McDonald to the beat of Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind."

Check out a partial list of winners below - the full list can be found at TonyAwards.com. What did you think of the show?

soundoff(18 Responses)

This was not only the best awards show ever aired on television, but quite possibly the very best special variety program that has ever been produced for television. Expect to see Neil Patrick Harris et al. chalk up more Emmy Awards for it.

All *due* credit to Neal Patrick Harris, just for example I felt he "killed" in the opening number – but it seems to me that this article makes it out like he was responsible for creating the entire thing – choosing to include Mike Tyson, make a joke about Shia LeBeof, etc. Clearly there were writers and a director, etc. who contributed heavily to creating this.

I do not care how many award shows Neil Patrick Harris is hosting, if he is not picked to MC next year's Academy Awards, who ever they get will probably not be as good. Seth Marfarlane and Tina Fey have already said they do not want to do it. Either they Academy Awards asks NPH to do it, or they risk getting someone as bad as James Franco and/or Anne Hathaway. James Franco and Anne Hathaway can act, but, they sure can't host an awards show. They were so inept, that when Billy Crystal stepped out on stage, almost everyone in the theater demanded he take over hosting duties for the rest of the program. Neil Patrick Harris and the Tonys did not make One mistake during last night's Live broadcast. That's excellence at work. That's how the professionals do it.

NPH hit it our of the park! The show was long but it kept me entertained!! I almost went to bed at 10:30 but glad I stayed awake until the end – LOVED the closing number!! NPH is truly a gifted performer!!!!!

I just love Neil Patrick Harris. I love him even more when I saw his "member" shift to the right during the opening number....so much so that all the cameras shot him from the waist up! His partner is a very "Lucky Guy"!!!